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Chris&nbspLee

President, Earthworks

Chris Lee is President of Dallas, Texas-based Earthworks, which specializes in multifamily housing landscaping. He is a contributing author to Landscape Management magazine, licensed irrigation specialist and a Toro Intellisense certified technician. Chris studied business at the University of Arkansas from 1990-94 and horticulture and landscape design at Tarrant County College from 1999-01. He has been employed at Earthworks since 1998.

The wetter-than-normal fall and winter in some parts of the country has been quite a relief for landscapes starved by drought in recent years. But there will be a price to pay this year, say landscape professionals and agronomists. In a recent post on the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service website, agronomist Dr. Jourdan Bell[…]

An out-of-date landscape may send a message that you’re in the land of the lost. A landscape installed 20 or 30 years ago usually shows its age – certain types of plants and rock date a property. For residents and prospects, living in surroundings that don’t appear to be current can be difficult. Yet curb appeal[…]

For the past few years, drip irrigation systems for residential and commercial uses have been an effective way to not only conserve water but give landscapes the deep watering they need to flourish in any climate. They have become increasingly popular on the apartment landscape – whether by requirement or voluntary implementation – and are[…]

Research shows that the presence of trees in a community encourages people to be more physically active, and, in general, affects their attitudes and behaviors. In addition, leafy and healthy trees can make a big contribution to the well-being of an apartment community, providing a great aesthetic value for residents. The big, tall oak may[…]

Apartment landscapes aren’t just for pansies anymore. Pretty flowers, shrubs and hedges are getting a lot of competition as community landscapes are muscling up to accommodate a sense of gamesmanship, competition and personal fitness. Recent installations of outdoor lawn chess, disc golf, sand volleyball and interactive fitness trails are becoming more fashionable to engage apartment[…]

Much ado has been made about native landscaping or Xeriscaping, that eco-friendly process of creating landscapes from native plants that reduce or eliminate the need for supplemental water. By taking some of its principles and designing virtually maintenance-free landscapes, apartments have an opportunity to not only green their properties but go really green. Earth-friendly landscaping is[…]

Preservation of natural resources remains a big topic in multifamily, enough that discussions about reducing energy and utility use typically fill a session or two at education conferences. Not long ago, an industry executive mentioned her company was being a good steward of the environment and eliminating lawns with concrete in the same breath as[…]

A beautiful apartment landscape is a work in progress that requires a solid plan, good timing, and some patience. It’s no secret that a great looking apartment landscape has the kind of curb appeal that will catch the eyes of not only existing residents but prospects. With spring around the corner, now is the time[…]

Apartment landscape designs are going through changes. And it’s getting ‘cool’ again to be the straight-and-narrow and a little square kid at school—or, at least, when it comes to multifamily landscaping.